Deputy Briscoe wishes to make a personal explanation.
Personal Explanation by Member.
On Thursday last during my absence from the Dáil, as reported in column 1174 of the Dáil Debates, No. 9, Vol. 199, Deputy McQuillan, intervening on the Industrial Grants Bill, made an attack on me and the industry in which I have a personal interest. I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for permitting me to make a personal statement.
The allegations made by Deputy McQuillan were that the firm (1) was employing over 300 people and that it had now reduced its number of employees by 35/40 per cent. within the last three months; (2) was promised a grant of £50,000 for re-adaptation; (3) within the past fortnight had begun to lay off a number of their workers and within the next six months would be laying them off at the rate of five or ten a week and so get rid of the workers as quietly as possible over the longest possible period; and (4) that it had industrial manufacturing centres in a number of big cities and had decided to come to Ireland because labour in Ireland was so cheap and so plentiful and that it was now reducing the number of workers, at the same time getting a State grant.
I wish to state the facts. The factory concerned provided employment for more people, at a higher rate of intake, than was envisaged when it was set up. In recent months, due to the seasonal drop in demand for its products, together with the necessity of the installation of new machinery a temporary lay-off of a number of the workers was unavoidable. A further difficulty, quite unforeseen, arose due to a new Agreement between the Irish and British Sugar Boards with regard to prices of sugar for sale in Britain and the most unprecedented rise in world sugar prices. At no time has it been contemplated that the lay-off of staff would be permanent and, as discussed between the company and the union involved, it is hoped to have gradual re-employment of the affected workers until we again will have our maximum number of 200.
The factory is not seeking any grant for re-adaptation, as alleged. A grant in connection with a new extension has been negotiated.
The parent Company of this undertaking is in the USA and outside of Ireland has no other factory and came to Ireland as a result of my personal endeavours.
The allegations made by Deputy McQuillan, which reflected on me personally, are therefore without foundation.